Our Resource Base
Our Resource Base is a 16 place Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Resource Base. We have a full time teacher, who is supported by a number of teaching and learning support assistants.
Our two specialist classes (Reception/KS1 and KS2) are set up to specifically support children with autism who may find it difficult to manage full-time in a mainstream environment.
The children accessing the Resource Base will have:
- access to a full, engaging curriculum
- a language rich environment
- opportunities to develop socially and academically
- support to develop emotional regulation strategies
- support for sensory processing needs
- specialist support through small group teaching
- access to additional speech and language therapy
All children in the ASD Resource Base will have a place within a mainstream class at Torridon; the time children spend in their mainstream class is dependent on their individual needs and this will be reviewed regularly.
Children attending the Resource Base will receive regular specialist support. Children will receive support from speech and language therapists, specialist teachers and teaching assistants. Within the Resource Base, children will have lessons and interventions which will focus on developing their emotional regulation, social skills and independence. This will ensure that the children have better access to the curriculum and that they will have additional input to address their specific needs.
In the Resource Base, our priority is developing strong and positive relationships with the children. We develop these through supporting and seeking engagement opportunities with the children through learning and play.
We create a personalised curriculum to meet the needs and development stage of our learners. We base our curriculum around our learners needs and interests. Our curriculum is based on developing social skills, expressive and receptive language, self-regulation skills, positive learning behaviour and independence. Social stories and visual supports are used throughout all our learning.
We use the zones of regulation to teach children the vocabulary to express and understand their emotions and to develop strategies they can use to co-regulate and self-regulate. 
Admissions Criteria
A maximum of 2 Resource Base places will be offered per year group (Reception-Year 6) in order to ensure the effective provision of resources for all children at Torridon Primary School. Where possible this may be extended to 3 spaces depending on the year group’s needs.
Children who meet our admissions criteria will:
- have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and this will be their primary need
- have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
- to be able to access up to 50% of the mainstream curriculum within their timetable
- have functional communication skills
- show potential to have independence with their learning
- will be working a maximum of two years behind on the curriculum (see below)
| Year Group | Admissions Criteria |
| Reception | Children must be at a stage of intentional communication.
They should show interest in the activities of others and responds differently to children and adults e.g. may be more interested in watching children than adults or may pay more attention when children talk to them. They will use a familiar adult as a secure base from which to explore independently in new environments e.g. ventures away to play and interact with others, but returns for a cuddle or reassurance if becomes anxious. They will play cooperatively with a familiar adult e.g. rolling a ball back and forth. |
| Year 1 | They will also be developing and showing evidence of being at the early stages of reading (phase 2 phonics), writing and maths.
Children will be able to use language to express their basic wants and needs. They will be interested in others’ play and starting to join in and will seek out others to share experiences. |
| Year 2 | Children will be working at Pre-Key Stage 1 level 4 at a minimum and accessing phase 3 phonics as a minimum.
Children will be using language functionally. They will be able to play in a group with adult support and will be able to initiate play within a small group. Children will also demonstrate friendly behaviour; they will be able to form relationships with familiar peers and adults. |
| Year 3 | Children will be working at a Year 1 level at a minimum.
Children will be able to independently starts conversations with peers and adults, but may require some support to extend conversations. |
| Year 4 | Children will be working at a Year 2 level at a minimum.
Children will initiate conversations, listen to others and will take turns in conversations with peers and adults with increasing independence. |
| Year 5 | Year 3 level at a minimum.
Children will be engaging in conversations with adults, and will be working towards building a social circle. |
| Year 6 | Year 4 level at a minimum.
Children are confident to speak in a familiar group, will talk about their ideas, and will start to problem solve when encountering issues within their friendships. They say when they do or don’t need help. |
Acquiring a Resource Base Placement
Admission to the Resource Base is through the consultation process which can be sought through Lewisham’s Special Educational Needs department. Please contact your child’s SEN caseworker for more information, and refer to the admissions process here:
For further information about the Resource Base, or to book a tour please contact our administrative staff by emailing: admin@torridonprimary.lewisham.sch.uk